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Willy Guhl and Robert Pansart Red Pod Chair in Cement, 1969

About the Item

Extremely rare iconic pod chair attributed to Willy Guhl, Many experts agree that this Pod Chair is actually the work of Robert Pansart, better known for his mirrors than for this magnificent chair. Whatever it is, we are dealing here with a magnificent specimen that will give an incredible originality to your living room or your garden. The painted concrete chair, with cut-out handles on each side for ease of movement, can be used indoors or outdoors. Handmade with cast fiber cement and molds. Beautiful red painting. Willy Guhl was one of the most influential industrial designers in Switzerland. Designed by a pioneer of modern art for the garden, the timeless design of the pod chair amplifies the creative use of simplicity of a futuristic appeal. Robert Pansart was a French furniture designer and decorator who was active in the Mid-20th Century. Little is known about his life, but he is known for his unique and innovative designs, which often incorporated organic shapes and innovative materials. Pansart's work was heavily influenced by the biomorphic designs of artists such as Jean Arp and Henry Moore. He is known for his use of glasses ratan and cement which he used to create intricate and sculptural furniture pieces that were both functional and aesthetically pleasing. His mirror designs are exceptional and very decorative. Although Pansart's career was relatively short, his designs continue to be sought after by collectors and design enthusiasts today.

Creator:

Willy Guhl (Designer),Robert Pansart (Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 26.38 in (67 cm)Width: 26.38 in (67 cm)Depth: 20.87 in (53 cm)Seat Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Cement

Place of Origin:

Switzerland

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

1969

Condition:

Seller Location:

Santa Gertrudis, ES

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU4513133602312

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Shop All Willy Guhl

Willy Guhl

Decades prior to the mass popularity of neo-industrial cement floors and furniture taking shape, there was Willy Guhl. The Swiss creative is considered one of the first “industrial” designers in his home country. He pioneered a rugged, organic style of modern furniture and decor — stylish planters, shapely seating and lots more — that remains widely coveted by many today.

Guhl was born in 1915 in Stein am Rhein and worked as a carpenter before beginning studies at the Zurich School of Applied Arts (known today as the Zurich University of the Arts), where he would go on to teach for nearly 40 years.

While Guhl is well-known for his range of provocative garden elements as well as his patio and outdoor furniture, today’s legion of mid-century modern enthusiasts are likely familiar with the designer’s iconic Loop chair (introduced in 1954). For this sculptural seat and other furnishings, Guhl tended toward industrial materials, which he bent and shaped into organic forms for a striking juxtaposition. Much of his work is crafted from either concrete or Eternit, a mixture of cement and asbestos developed by the Belgian company Etex, which, in the 1950s, commissioned Guhl and his students at the School of Applied Arts to conceive planters in the material. The resulting vessels — some hourglass-shaped, some in the form of handkerchiefs, all suitable for indoors or exteriors — remain some of Guhl’s most collectible pieces.

Guhl’s affiliation with the Swiss “neo-functional” movement centered on the idea of simplifying design without sacrificing form. According to Guhl, his mission was “achieving the most with the minimum of effort.”

In addition to his work as a designer, Guhl left his mark on subsequent creatives through his 39-year tenure at his alma mater, where he was instructor to the likes of Robert Haussmann, Kurt Thut and Bruno Rey. Modern-day shoppers at IKEA owe Guhl a debt of gratitude too. He was an early advocate of flat-pack furniture, championing its ability to make good design more widely accessible.

At its core, though, Guhl’s work was inherently human-centric: “At the center of my efforts, I put people and their living requirements,” he once said. “My products must be useful to people.” Guhl died in 2004 at the age of 89.

Find a range of vintage Willy Guhl furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.